The Best of MetaStellar Year Five

By Marie Ginga

Fifty-one gripping stories in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

In a small valley amidst the mountains, villagers disagree about what to do with their aging dragon.

-"A Kindness, A Cruelty" by Andrew Maust

In a ship traveling across the stars, an accomplished smuggler ends up with some very precious contraband.

-"The Rarest of Contraband" by Amethyst Loscocco

A burnt-out detective arrives at a murder scene to find out that the deceased is a time traveler.

-"Come Back Yesterday" by Emma Burnett

The Four Riders of the Apocalypse wake up in Las Vegas after one last blowout before the end of the world.

-"Due to Unforeseen Circumstances, The Apocalypse May Be Postponed" by Michael M. Jones

In a Canadian federal courtroom, an artificial intelligence named LYRA petitions for legal personhood.

-"Amicus Machina" by Robin Kers

A group of bungling, aging mages are setting up one last scam, a magical school, when their only pupil goes missing.

-"Life Lesson" by Nicole Walsh

. . . and many other short tales of wonder, shock, and awe.

THE BEST OF METASTELLAR YEAR FIVE

"MetaStellar brings bright new voices into the world of speculative fiction along with award winning authors. The journey is just beginning."

-Thomas Approbato, poet, artist, and storyteller

"MetaStellar is a hub of fantastical worlds, which you can visit in the space of a story. To finish reading a MetaStellar story is to return to earth, slightly changed by your trip, your mind and soul enriched. And more acutely aware of the worlds within yourself."

-Brooksie C. Fontaine, speculative fiction author and illustrator

"I love MetaStellar for its ability to showcase exceptional storytelling while also cultivating it, offering meaningful visibility to new voices alongside established authors."

-Joe Luther, English teacher by day, science fiction/horror writer by night

"A fantastic collection of stories showcasing the best of what speculative short fiction has to offer "

-Dan Peacock, sci-fi and fantasy writer

"MetaStellar is a great publication that really stands out from the crowd. I'm an English professor by day and several stories published by Metastellar . . . are featured in my flash fiction literature course. Thank you for creating such a great publication."

-Phill Dixon, Author and Professor of English at the College of Southern Nevada

"I tend to binge on sff; what I love about MetaStellar is that I can still enjoy a fun, high quality morsel even when I'm very busy and don't dare pick up a book."

-Finale Doshi-Velez, AI designer and author

"MetaStellar is a great place to discover the best of modern speculative fiction writing."

-Chris Wheatley, writer and journalist

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H9PJHRR7
• ISBN13: 9798235619012
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Metastellar Press
• Length: 364 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"